RHYS Williams and Jason Steele will miss the start of pre-season when the Boro squad return to action on Thursday.

The duo have been given an extra week to recover from the exertions of summer international duty.

Williams, pictured, returned to the Socceroos scene following a long lay off with a pelvic problem and saw action for the Aussies from the bench in friendlies against New Zealand and Serbia earlier this month.

Steele was an unused member of the England Under-21 squad that played in the European Championships in Denmark.

Boro boss Tony Mowbray revealed: “We are giving Rhys and Jason an extra week before they come back because they have been training or playing all summer.

“It’s important they take a break physically and mentally before they come back for pre-season training.”

Williams, who was a revelation on his return from injury in the closing weeks of last season, has once again been linked in the national media with interest from Bolton Wanderers.

However Mowbray has already informed Bolton boss Owen Coyle that Williams is not for sale.

Unless Coyle tests Mowbray’s resolve with a massive inflated offer, then that’s how it will stay.

Meanwhile Mowbray expects midfield duo Nicky Bailey and Merouane Zemmama to be back in full training with the rest of the squad on Thursday.

Bailey has needed treatment throughout the summer for torn ankle ligaments, while Zemmama has been in rehab following a torn hamstring.

However both players have recovered and should be back training on Thursday.

The only likely absentee on Thursday will be Seb Hines, who suffered a double broken jaw in a match at Ipswich in April.

Hines also needed an ankle operation near the end of last season and will not be fit enough to start pre-season with his team-mates.

He will need extra care while his bones continue to heal.

Mowbray said: “Seb will have to avoid contact at first and that will rule him out of competitive action until the end of July.

“So it is cutting it close for him, but he is doing well.

“Nicky Bailey has also been into Rockliffe Park this week and he is just about ready, so we have no big worries with injuries at this point.”

The lack of injuries is good news, though this will be the first time for many years that Boro have returned for pre-season without a single new face in their ranks.

Mowbray continues to monitor a list of targets, but he is not able to make a positive move until he has made a significant reduction to the wage bill.

So far there is no indication that any of the higher paid players are on the verge of moving on.

Naturally Mowbray is waiting for decisions from Andrew Taylor and Julio Arca, both of whom are out of contract on July 1.

But even if the duo both leave, Mowbray will probably be under pressure to instigate further cuts if he wants to bring in new faces.

If several of the better paid players do move on, then it is likely to be later rather than sooner - which suggests that Thursday’s training squad could yet be much changed by September 1.